G.I. Carmen

G. I. Carmen was an all-GI 1945 musical stage show produced by the 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Division of the U.S. Army as morale booster for allied troops occupying post-WWII Europe. Initially intended as a three-show run for the Regiment it was extended to reach the entire Division and then picked up by the 7th Army and sent on an eight-month tour of the ETO seen by over 250,000 military personnel and countless civilians.

Shortly after V-E Day Lt. Robert T. Bogan, 253rd Special Services officer, directed his assistant, T/5 Frederick Wiener (aka Fredd Wayne), to organize an entertainment for the Regiment. Sgt. Joe Pollock, co-collaborator with Wayne on Special Services theatricals during the 253rd’s training stint in Mississippi, joined Wayne in planning a show based on Wayne’s idea of a burlesqued version of Bizet's opera Carmen. Flyers were posted seeking volunteers for cast and crew in "Carmen – a Boilesk Voishin”. Of the 45 GIs in the cast about half would perform in drag but none wanted the title role, so Wayne in addition to co-producing and directing the show became the U.S. Army’s Carmen.

During the nine days allotted for rehearsal cast and crew mustered what costumes, wigs and make-up they could. Guitarist and musical arranger Sgt. Marty Faloon coordinated with choreographer T/Sgt Hal Edwards, who had worked for Arthur Murray and danced in 20th Century Fox Studios musicals, on adaptations of popular contemporary numbers as well as original tunes composed by saxophonist Cpl. Herbert Behrens. The band for G.I. Carmen had its beginnings during stateside training when jazz violinist, Ralph Cerasuolo, once known in New York City as ‘Leonardo of the Stork Club’, coaxed and inspired G.I. volunteers of the 63rd into a swing unit that was in high demand, opening the new USO Club in New Orleans and playing multiple shows weekly around the south during breaks from combat drills. Cerasoulo was killed in action in April 1945; for G.I.Carmen, the band’s leadership fell to Sgt. Faloon. Guitarist S/Sgt Charlie Byrd performed in the chorus as well as the band where his playing was favorably reviewed.

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